Samsung going AMD for UMPC to shave costs

The UMPC/Origami has been slow to take off. Will a new CPU and a lower price …

Before its official launch in March, the hype surrounding Origami had catapulted to levels usually reserved for the latest rumored iThing. Known officially as an Ultra Mobile PC, the devices attempt to pack a lot of functionality into a small form factor—a 7" diagonal touch-screen display running Windows XP.

So far, there are two UMPC out on the market: the Samsung Q1 and the TabletKiosk EO. Although the hardware specs are interesting: a 900MHz Intel Celerom M ULV, integrated Intel 915 graphics, 20-60GB of storage, and a 7" 800x480 LCD, uptake has been slow due in part to the device's hefty price tag: US$1,099. Samsung realizes that the price is a bit on the high side and hopes to sell a revised version of the device with an AMD processor beginning in the fall.

According to Samsung official, the change in CPU supplier should result in a KRW400,000 price drop for the revised UMPC, which translates into about a US$423 price drop at current exchange rates. If that were to result in a roughly US$700 street price for a Samsung UMPC, it would be more likely to entice potential buyers who are currently sitting on the sideline waiting for the price to drop.

If the switch to AMD goes through, it would be something of a blow to Intel—not because the UMPC sells huge volumes of Intel chips, but because the chipmaker was part of the concept's originating triad that also included Samsung and Microsoft. It would also be another notch on AMD's belt in its attempt to gain traction, marketshare, and mindshare from the world's dominant CPU maker.

The UMPC has potential, but it remains to be seen how fully it will be realized. At its current four-digit price, it's hard for most consumers to justify buying one. Still, we've got one on order up here at the Orbiting HQ and hopefully we'll be able to share our impressions with you once it arrives.